Apparatus for stimulating living tissue

ABSTRACT

Electrodes for stimulating living tissue such as penile, scrotal, anal, vaginal and clitoral tissue are shown. The electrodes are formed from elastomeric material. Electrical stimulation to such areas is intended to control incontinence, to induce penile erection, or to induce excitation and orgasm. A plug electrode formed from elastomeric material, has a nonconductive base plate and base, and a conductive portion comprising a stem extending from the base and the ellipsoid ball extending from the stem. A snap contact on the base plate allows the electrode to be connected to an electrical source, and a wire within the base terminating in the stem carries the electricity, when applied, from the contact to stem and to the ellipsoid ball. A memory wire is also shown allowing the ellipsoid ball to be bent along its length or allowing the stem to be bent against the base, thereby angling the posture of the ball relative the base.

RELATED APPLICATION

This application is a continuation of application Ser. No. 08/895,941,filed 16 Jul. 1997 which is a divisional of application Ser. No.08/568,875, filed on 7 Dec. 1995, now issued U.S. Pat. No. 5,697,966

This application is a Continuation-In-Part of "Apparatus for StimulatingPenile, Scrotal, Anal, Vaginal and Clitoral Tissue," invented by DavidBoutos, Ser. No. 08/369,172, filed Jan. 5, 1995.

RELATED APPLICATION

This application is a continuation of application Ser. No. 08/895,941,filed 16 Jul. 1997 which is a divisional of application Ser. No.08/568,875, filed on 7 Dec. 1995, now issued U.S. Pat. No. 5,697,966

This application is a Continuation-In-Part of "Apparatus for StimulatingPenile, Scrotal, Anal, Vaginal and Clitoral Tissue," invented by DavidBoutos, Ser. No. 08/369,172, filed Jan. 5, 1995.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

This invention relates to apparatus for applying electrical energy toliving tissue.

More particularly, the present invention relates to apparatus forelectrically stimulating penile, scrotal, anal vaginal and clitoraltissue.

In a further and more specific aspects, the invention relates toelectrically stimulating penile, scrotal, vaginal and clitoral tissuefor the purposes of treating incontinence in men and women, and forinducing penile erection, male and female orgasm.

2. Prior Art

It is widely known that the application of electrical stimulation tocertain neuromuscular areas in or near the genitalia can be used totreat incontinence in both men and women. Also known is that theapplication of electrical stimulation to penile tissue can causeerection where impotence may exist due to physiological or psychologicalconditions. Additionally it is known the application of electricalstimulation to penile, vaginal, clitoral, anal, or prostate tissue caninduce orgasm, even where the subject has suffered vascular degenerativeneural neuropathy. Finally it is known that diabetes and many othermedical disorders can cause penile impotence.

The art is replete with various apparatus used to apply electricalstimulation to the subject areas. Rigid rings capable of transmittinglow levels of electricity to the skin and muscles are typically appliedabout the penis and/or the scrotum. Insertable rolled or plug-typeelectrodes, made to be rolled to size, or sized in a variety of sizes tofit the user's anatomy, are known for the purpose of applying low levelsof electricity to the skin and muscles inside and surrounding the vaginaand the anus.

Urinary incontinence is a common problem that may require long termretraining of self-control, particularly after a stroke, or permanentuse of an external control device. The prior art does not teach ofapparatus that is designed to be worn while the user, fully dressed,moves about his or her everyday course of events.

Rigid rings are useable for males where the application of electricalcurrent to only a portion of penile tissue is sufficient to induceurethral control or erection. This is because sufficient expansion roomis required within the ring to accommodate penile engorgement. Rigidrings are particularly problematic where penile atrophy has occurred,and the desired goal is erection or orgasm. The tremendously varyingsize of the penile tissue from rest to engorgement may cause a need touse a large diameter ring on a small diameter penis, or to change ringsduring a treatment.

For the female, a discrete unit, usable in a variety of ways, isdesirable to control incontinence, or to stimulate and to induce orgasm.Such a unit should be particularly designed to be worn under a user'sclothing, and operative while the female was engaged in other normaleveryday activity.

It would be highly advantageous, therefore, to remedy the foregoing andother deficiencies inherent in the prior art.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provideimprovements in electrical stimulation apparatus for both men and women.

Another object of the invention is the provision of improvementsespecially adapted for use in connection with apparatus for controllingand treating incontinence in men and women.

And another object of the invention is to provide improved means for theapplication of electrical stimulation to the vagina.

Yet another object of the invention is to provide means for theapplication of electrical stimulation to the penile and scrotal tissue.

Yet still another object of the invention is the provision of improvedmeans for the application of electrical stimulation to the penile andscrotal tissue that can expand with penile erection.

A further object of the instant invention is to provide improvements inthe connectivity of electrical stimulation apparatus.

And a further object of the invention is the provision of a male andfemale electrical stimulation apparatus that can be worn comfortably anddiscretely under a user's clothing.

Yet a further object of this invention is to provide male electricalstimulation apparatus that can induce erection and orgasm, and femaleelectrical stimulation apparatus that can induce orgasm.

And yet an object of the invention is the provision of means andimprovements according to the foregoing which will materially reduce thecost of male and female electrical stimulation apparatus.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Briefly, to achieve the desired objects of the instant invention inaccordance with a preferred embodiment thereof, first provided is a plugshaped electrode to which a source of electricity may be attached.

The plug shaped electrode is fabricated from elastomeric material. Itmay inserted into the vagina and positioned therein so that theapplication of electricity provided by the source connected to theelectrode may contract the muscles surrounding the ureter, therebycontrolling incontinence, or positioned therein so the application ofelectricity may induce excitation and orgasm.

It may also be inserted anally instead thereby stimulating that tissueand the nearby prostate for assisting in controlling incontinence, orfor excitation. The plug electrode may include an internal wire so itcan be bent and angled and retain the angled posture.

An electrode in the form of a tube for direct use or for to be wrappedaround tissue such as penile and/or scrotal tissue comprises analternate embodiment of the invention.

The tube is also formed from elastomeric material, and may have aninternal wire so it can be bent and retain the bent position. Anelectrical plug, such as a banana plug having a plug end and a secondend can be inserted in to an open end of the tube electrode to provideelectricity from a source connected to the plug at its second end.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The foregoing and further and more specific objects and advantages ofthe instant invention will become readily apparent to those skilled inthe art from the following detailed description of a preferredembodiment thereof taken in conjunction with the drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of plug electrode in accordance with thepresent invention;

FIG. 2 is a view of plug electrode showing a position retaining wiremounted therein;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a tube electrode and its connector;

FIG. 4 is a view of the tube electrode showing a position retaining wiremounted therein.

PREFERRED EMBODIMENT OF THE PRESENT INVENTION

Turning now to the drawings in which like reference characters indicatecorresponding elements throughout the several views, attention is firstdirected to FIG. 1 where plug electrode 600 is shown. Plug electrode 600is fabricated from elastomeric material such as silicon, viton, andneoprene, and such material is non-conductive of electricity.

Plug electrode 600 has base plate 601, which has button snap malecontact 602 embedded in it at the bottom. Rising from plate 601 is base604. Extending therefrom is stem 605, and from there is generallyellipsoid ball-shaped electrode 606.

Electrode 606 and stem 605 are conductive of electricity. They are madeconductive by embedding carbon particles in the silicon, viton, orneoprene during fabrication of plug electrode 600.

Both electrode 606 and stem 605 will conduct electricity when plugelectrode 600 is connected to a source of electricity, typically acontroller allowing for adjustment of current (not shown). Thecontroller will typically include a jack, and a wire connected to thejack. The wire will typically terminate with a female snap connector.Such female snap connector is connected to snap connector 602.

Running directly to and connected to snap connector 602 is conductiveline 608. Line 608 is simply conductive material running through theinterior of base 604 and up into conductive stem 605, thereby carryingelectricity provided by a controller to both conductive stem 605 andelectrode 606.

In general use of plug electrode 600, electrode 606 and stem 605 areinserted vaginally or anally. Non-conductive base plate 601 and base 604provide a stop to prevent too deep insertion, and a handle for moving orremoving plug electrode 600 when inserted and electrified.

FIG. 2 shows an additional feature that may incorporated into plugelectrode 600. Embedded within electrode 606 and stem 605 is wire 609.Wire 609 is not necessarily intended to carry electricity, but whenwithin electrode 606 and stem 605, allows the bending of electrode 606against stem 605, and retains the bent angle of electrode 606 relativeto base 604. Wire 609 also allows the bending of electrode 606 along itsellipsoid ball shape, thereby retaining electrode 606 in a bent posture.Such bending and "memory" posturing allows plug electrode 600 to beeffectively positioned within the cavity inserted.

Turning to FIG. 3, shown is tube electrode apparatus 620. Tube electrodeapparatus 620, has tube electrode 621, and banana plug 622.

Tube electrode 621 is fabricated from carbon-imbedded elastomericnonconductive material such as low modullus silicon, viton, andneoprene, thereby rending all of tube electrode 620 conductive. Tubeelectrode 621 is extremely flexible, and is generally analogous tospaghetti tubing. Banana plug 622 has plug end 624, made of three orfour metal spring-like leafs joined at the top and terminating at base625. Wire 626 is soldered to base 625.

Extending from base 625 is externally threaded stem 628. Wire 626 is runthrough internally threaded cap 629, and then cap 629 is screwed onto tostem 628 thereby insulating the base of banana plug 622. Wire 626typically terminates at its other end (not shown) with a connectorallowing it to connected to the jack of a controller (not shown).

When electricity is applied to tube electrode 621 its entire surfaceemanates current. When wire 630 is inserted within tube electrode 621,as shown in FIG. 4, it allows tube electrode 621 to be bent, and retainthe bending posture. Tube electrode 621 can be coiled about anyprojection, i.e. a finger, or can be wrapped around and conform to theback of one's neck.

Various changes and modifications to the embodiments herein chosen forpurposes of illustration will readily occur to those skilled in the art.To the extent that such modifications and variations do not depart fromthe spirit of the invention, they are intended to be included within thescope thereof which is assessed only by a fair interpretation of thefollowing claims.

Having fully described the invention in such clear and concise terms asto enable those skilled in the art to understand and practice the same,the invention claimed is:
 1. An electrode apparatus comprising:a baseplate which has at least one means for connecting to a source ofelectricity; a base arising from said base plate, said base having afirst width and an outer conductive surface; a stem coupled to the base,said stem having a second width, where said second width issubstantially less than said first width; a ball shaped electrodecoupled to said stem having a tip at the most distal end of saidapparatus, said electrode having an outer conductive surface located atsaid tip, and electrical conductive means within said stem forconducting electricity from said base to said electrode.
 2. Theelectrode apparatus of claim 1 wherein said stem is conductive ofelectrical current.
 3. The electrode apparatus of claim 1 wherein thebase, the stem and the ball shaped electrode means are formed fromelastomeric material.
 4. The electrode apparatus of claim 1 wherein thestem is formed from elastomeric material.
 5. The electrode apparatus ofclaim 1 wherein said means for connecting to a source of electricitycomprises a contact.
 6. The electrode apparatus of claim 1 wherein saidmeans for connecting to a source of electricity comprises a wire.
 7. Theelectrode apparatus of claim 6 wherein said wire has a first end coupledto said electrode apparatus, and a free end; and further comprises acontact coupled to said free end of said wire.